Abuja Set to Become Nigeria’s Fourth Book City: A Celebration of Reading and Literacy

In a bid to promote reading and literacy, Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, has been chosen as the country’s fourth Book City. The Abuja Book City Year Project, a reading promotions initiative, aims to get more people in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and environs to cultivate and sustain a regular and lifelong reading habit.

The project, which is scheduled to run for two years, is the brainchild of the Network of Book Clubs and Reading Culture Promoters in Nigeria, in collaboration with several other organizations, including the FCT Education Resource Centre, National Library of Nigeria, and Nigerian Publishers Association.

Partners of the Abuja Book City Year Project:

1. National Library of Nigeria

2. Nigerian Copyright Commission

3. Association of Nigerian Authors

4. Education Resource Centre

5. RovingHeights Bookshop

6. Nigeria International Book Fair

7. Booksellers Association of Nigeria

8. Nigerian Library Association

9. Nigerian Publishers Association

10. Literacy Promotion Association of Nigeria

11. Kairos Tablets & Scroll

12. Nigeria Centre for Reading Research and Development, BUK, Kano

13. Milid Foundation

14. LightRay! Media

According to the organizers, the project is open to everyone, regardless of age or background. “We want to encourage people to develop a love for reading, which is essential for personal growth, education, and societal development,” said a Coordinator for the Network, said Chief Loye Olowookere.

The project has several components, including book donations, reading promotions, and literary events. All libraries in and around the FCT are being encouraged to keep their doors open for readers during the Book City Year and beyond.

Abuja is the fourth Nigerian city to be designated as a Book City, after Uyo, Lagos, and Yenagoa. The project’s organizers hope that it will not only promote reading and literacy but also foster a sense of community and social cohesion.

As part of the project, several events are planned, including a formal flag-off ceremony, a national conference on reading, and several companion events. Individuals, corporate bodies, and organizations are encouraged to support the project through book donations, sponsorship, and collaboration.

In a country where literacy rates are still a challenge, initiatives like the Abuja Book City Year Project are crucial in promoting reading and literacy. As Nigeria continues to grapple with the challenges of development, projects like this remind us of the importance of education and literacy in building a better future.

“Reading is the key to unlocking the potential of our citizens,” said a Olowookere for the Network. “We hope that the Abuja Book City Year Project will inspire a love of reading in people of all ages and backgrounds.”